Diocese of Ratnapura, Sri Lanka

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Ratnapura / Ratnapuren(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Colombo

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1995.11.02: Established as Diocese of Ratnapura / Ratnapuren(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Galle and became suffragan of Colombo)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2024.03.05 – ...):

Bishop Peter Antony Wyman Croos (57)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Ratnapura (Roman Rite)

Bishop Peter Antony Wyman Croos (57)
(2024.03.05 – ...)

Bishop of Ratnapura (Sri Lanka)

Veritatem facientes in caritate

Born:	1967.11.08 (Chilaw, Sri Lanka)
Ordained Priest:	2000.09.16
Consecrated Bishop:	2024.06.01

Priest of Chilaw (Sri Lanka) (2000.09.16 – 2024.03.05)

Bishop of Ratnapura (Sri Lanka) (2024.03.05 – ...)

Bishop Cletus Chandrasiri Perera, O.S.B. Silv. (77)
(2007.05.04 – 2024.03.05)

Bishop emeritus of Ratnapura (Sri Lanka)

Per crucem ad lucem

Born:	1947.09.06 (Seeduwa, Sri Lanka)
Ordained Priest:	1973.08.04
Consecrated Bishop:	2007.07.11

Bishop of Ratnapura (Sri Lanka) (2007.05.04 – 2024.03.05)

Bishop Harold Anthony Perera (73)
(Apostolic Administrator 2006.07 – 2007.05.04)

Fr. Ivan Tilak Jayasundera (65)
(2006.01.20 – 2006.07.06 not possessed)

Bishop emeritus of Ratnapura (Sri Lanka)

Born:	1959.11.25 (Sri Lanka)
Ordained Priest:	1985.08.03

Bishop of Ratnapura (Sri Lanka) (2006.01.20 – 2006.07.06 not possessed)

Bishop Harold Anthony Perera (73)
(2003.01.29 – 2005.02.15)

Bishop of Kurunegala (Sri Lanka)
President of Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka

Caritas est vinculum pacis

Born:	1951.06.09 (Bopitiya, Sri Lanka)
Ordained Priest:	1980.07.05
Consecrated Bishop:	2003.03.18

Priest of Colombo (Sri Lanka) (1980.07.05 – 2003.01.29)

Bishop of Ratnapura (Sri Lanka) (2003.01.29 – 2005.02.15)

Bishop of Galle (Sri Lanka) (2005.02.15 – 2009.05.14)

Apostolic Administrator of Ratnapura (Sri Lanka) (2006.07 – 2007.05.04)

Bishop of Kurunegala (Sri Lanka) (2009.05.14 – ...)

President of Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka (2022.06.10 – ...)

Bishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don (77) (later Cardinal)
(1995.11.02 – 2001.10.01)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Lorenzo in Lucina
Metropolitan Archbishop of Colombo (Sri Lanka)

Verbum caro factum est

Born:	1947.11.15 (Polgahawela, Sri Lanka)
Ordained Priest:	1975.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1991.08.31
Created Cardinal:	2010.11.20

Priest of Colombo (Sri Lanka) (1975.06.29 – 1991.06.17)

Titular Bishop of Cabarsussi (1991.06.17 – 1995.11.02)

Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo (Sri Lanka) (1991.06.17 – 1995.11.02)

Bishop of Ratnapura (Sri Lanka) (1995.11.02 – 2001.10.01)

Archbishop ad personam (2001.10.01 – 2004.04.29)

Adjunct Secretary of Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples (2001.10.01 – 2005.12.10)

Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia (2004.04.29 – 2005.12.10)

Apostolic Nuncio to Timor-Leste (2004.04.29 – 2005.12.10)

Titular Archbishop of Umbriatico (2004.04.29 – 2009.06.16)

Secretary of Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (2005.12.10 – 2009.06.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Colombo (Sri Lanka) (2009.06.16 – ...)

President of Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka (2010.04 – 2017.02.21)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Lorenzo in Lucina (2010.11.20 [2011.02.13] – ...)

Vice-President of Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (2018.11.16 [2019.01.01] – 2025.01.01)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Ratnapura, Sabaragamuva

Churches by City (25)

Colombo (←), Kurunegala (↑), Kandy (↗), Badulla (→), Galle (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 4,968 km²

Population: 19,621 Catholics (1.0% of 1,928,655 total)

Pastoral Centres: 24 parishes

Personnel: 34 priests (diocesan), 63 religious (63 sisters), 8 seminarians